Accessibility Plan Part 2 – Accessibility Plan C

Action/Initiatives

Status

Timeframe

Establish accessibility working group.

•    The Superintendent, Education Services, Equity and Diversity, Inclusive Education was appointed as Accessibility Coordinator in May 2016.

•    A working group called the WSD AMA Steering Committee was established in May 2016 and provides representation across the division. The Steering Committee meets regularly to review feedback from departments and schools in the division, to develop and implement the action plan and to address immediate accessibility issues.

Complete

Ongoing

Establish and maintain an Accessibility Plan.

•    WSD has developed and will maintain a plan that will be updated at least every two years.

•    The plan will be posted online and shared with all staff.

Complete

Ongoing

Consultation with students and parents of students with disabilities.

•    In developing the WSD Accessibility Plan, all schools and parent councils were invited to provide input on the barriers to accessibility. The feedback on achievements and barriers to accessibility have been incorporated into our Accessibility Plan.

•    Further consultation with staff, students and parents of students with disabilities has occurred and will continue to occur. The WSD Accessibility plan is an ongoing – document. Feedback is continually welcomed to improve accessibility and inclusiveness within the division. 

Complete

Ongoing

Develop and implement a WSD Accessibility Policy.

•    WSD will develop an Accessibility Policy to achieve accessibility through AMA regulations.

Mid term

Ensure accessible transportation to attend school for students with disabilities.

•    WSD will provide integrated, accessible school transportation, or appropriate alternative accessible transportation services for students with disabilities where integrated services are not possible or not the best option due to the nature of the disability or safety concerns.

•    Consult with parents and develop individual school transportation plans for students with disabilities.

Completed
/ongoing

Ongoing

Action/Initiatives

Status

Timeframe

All policies, programs, services and new initiatives will be reviewed to work toward accessibility.

•    Consultation with schools and parent councils.

•    Consultation with students with disabilities and parents of students with disabilities.

•    Consultation with Board of Trustees Policy and Program Committee.

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Review WSD programs and policies through a disability lens.

•    WSD will ensure barriers for people with disabilities are taken into account when developing new programs and policies.

•    WSD will ensure all division policies follow existing legislation.

Ongoing

Long term

Ensure school events/assemblies are accessible.

•    WSD will develop a process to notify school communities that arrangements to accessibility are available.

•    WSD will ensure that when schools are organizing events, preparation includes gathering information on removing barriers for people with disabilities.

Short term

Ongoing

Welcome people with service animals to enter a place where the public, customers or guests are generally allowed.

•    WSD policy supports the use of a certified service animal in schools requested by a parent/guardian or employee as long as the appropriate planning and preparation have taken place.

•    WSD and the Human Rights Commission recognize the definition of Service Animal is evolving and WSD will continue to review its Certified Animal Policy to ensure it remains current. 

Ongoing

Action/Initiatives

Status

Timeframe

Install elevators and or lifts to provide full or partial access as required.

•    WSD has 46 locations that have either Elevator(s), and/or lifts providing full or partial access within the facility.  

• Projects are prioritized by PSFB based on student needs.

• There are 15 facilities requiring elevator(s)/lifts.

• Mulvey School Elevator project is under construction. Once completed it will provide access to the 1st and 2nd floors.

Long term

Install ramps at exterior entrances to facilities that do not currently have access.

•    The majority of the WSD facilities have one or more direct access to buildings either by ramps, elevator or entrances at grade level.

• WSD will include exterior ramps to provide access to main entrances where required as part of WSD maintenance projects, or as part of Elevator projects funded by Province.

• Currently one facility requires a ramp to be funded by the division. Another three facilities require a ramp, these will be installed as part of the new elevator addition projects once approved and funded by Province.

Mid term

Install door operators at entrances for accessibility.

•    One or more auto door operators are located at accessible entrances at 78 facilities.

• WSD will include automatic door operators (ADO) to exterior entrances as part of WSD maintenance projects.

• ADO’s have been installed (as new installations or additional operators) at 10 facilities in the last year.  Installation of ADO’s at another two facilities is currently underway for 2022.

Long term

Install accessible washrooms to all new construction or renovation projects, where required.

•    WSD will include accessible washrooms for all future builds and renovation projects.

• 79 locations have either a designated UTR and/or Accessible Washrooms available. 

• New or additional accessible washrooms have been competed in the past year at Niji Mahkwa, RB Russell, Prince Charles,

• Renovation and/or construction of accessible  washrooms are under way at Churchill, George V and Mulvey or planned for at Ralph Brown, Gordon Bell and Rockwood.

Long term

Install visibility strips to all new stair installations. Add visibility strips to existing stairs.

•    WSD will include visibility strips as part of our design standards going forward and as part of maintenance projects.

Mid term

Provide access to play space and accessible route within the play space boundary. Provide adequate accessible ground and elevated play component

•    Currently 36 play structures are fully accessible.

• WSD will specify accessible play structure design for future builds & replacements.

Long term

Action/Initiatives

Status

Timeframe

Ensure communication with a person disabled by a barrier is done in a way that removes the barrier. For example, use easy-to-read fonts and plain language.

•    The standard font for Winnipeg School Division is Arial 12. 

•    WSD Public Relations Services introduced subtitles on all on-line videos starting in 2014. In May, 2016, all publications produced by WSD include a notification stating “This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. For more information contact: Public Relations Services etc”. 

•    A reminder notice to all staff about the availability of alternative formats is included regularly in the weekly staff online bulletin.

•    WSD Library Support Services provides a resource rich lending library of materials for classrooms and teachers across the division in multiple formats, including digitally.

Ongoing

Welcome the use of assistive devices to remove or reduce barriers. Do not charge fees for use of on-site assistive devices, such hearing technology, descriptive video, or wheelchairs.

•    WSD is currently exploring the cost of purchasing and implementing assistive technology on its multiple web-based platforms for people who are blind or vision impaired. The division is working toward WCAG 2.1 AA compliance on the Connect Product. WSD is working towards WCAG 2.1 AA compliance on all websites by May 2024.

•    WSD is exploring improved access to FM signal or hearing aids for students who are hard of hearing and technology and software for level 1 and 2 students.

•    Sound field systems have been installed in several classrooms to ensure that these students can hear classroom instruction and direction. These systems are installed as required

Long term

Long term

Ongoing

Inform the public when there are temporary barriers to buildings, spaces or services. An example is if the elevator is out of order.

•    WSD Buildings Department exhibits signs at locations where temporary barriers exist. 

•    Long term barriers will be communicated to school communities (ie. Parents/guardians) via letter and posted on the WSD and school websites.

Ongoing

Introduce a process to receive and respond to feedback, including what action will be taken to respond to complaints. Make the information about the feedback process readily available to the public on-site, on the webpage and offer alternate format.

•    WSD will implement an Accessibility Feedback link on the division’s main website and all school sites.

•    An accessibility feedback form will be developed and available to all staff, who will be trained to receive accessibility feedback in person, and submit the completed form to the Accessibility Coordinator. 

Short term

Action/Initiatives

Status

Timeframe

Create barrier-free access to goods and services, so they benefit everyone as intended. For example remove boxes or other obstructions from hallways.

•    WSD will implement a regular reminder to all schools and building managers to ensure hallways, meeting rooms, classrooms and other access areas are cleared of all obstructions.

Ongoing

Welcome support persons to enter and remain with your customer. Avoid charges for a support person when possible. If there is an admission fee for a support person, give advance notice to the customer.

•    WSD will provide information on the website.

Ongoing

Achieve a culture where mental health and well-being are embedded into every student’s school experience.

•    WSD has implemented Mental Health Literacy workshops for all staff.

•    Healthy Minds week in May promotes positive mental health achievements within the school division over the past year.

Short term

Ongoing

Develop a recruiting and employment procedure for applicants with disabilities.

•    WSD will inform its employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for applications with disabilities in its recruitment and selection processes.

Ongoing